Latest news with #ZeeshanRafique
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Suthra Punjab programme now fully operational: minister
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique said that the Suthra Punjab programme has successfully moved beyond its experimental phase, and he expects that 100 percent results from the waste management companies. He conveyed these remarks while chairing a review meeting on Friday which included Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian, Special Secretary Asia Gul, and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi. Rafique emphasised the importance of addressing the accumulation of garbage in corners, in addition to the ongoing cleanliness operations in residential areas. He directed officials to improve the waste collection process, stating that it is inadequate to collect garbage only in the morning. He advocated for a model of waste collection that operates twice daily in commercial areas. The Minister stated there will be zero tolerance for any failure to comply with directions issued by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who is currently visiting various districts. He underscored that there is no room for laxity in meeting cleanliness targets and stressed the need for better performance from field monitoring officers. 'The CEOs of waste management companies must leave their offices and conduct frequent visits to the field," he said. He referred to the exemplary measures taken during Eid-ul-Azha and suggested that the same model could be applied on ordinary days for improved results. He also mentioned that villages should be cleaned in a phased manner, and contractors are expected to deploy their full resources to ensure cleanliness in every village. He warned that action would be taken if the villages remained unclean. The meeting concluded with a decision to establish a special monitoring cell at the provincial level to oversee practical measures on a daily basis. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Recycling of waste part of Suthra Punjab: Minister
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique has said that the Suthra Punjab is not just a programme limited to cleanliness, but safe dumping and recycling of waste is a part of it. He was addressing a meeting held on Wednesday which reviewed various schemes for eco-friendly recycling of waste collected under the Suthra Punjab programme. Punjab Local Government Secretary Shakeel Ahmed Mian and Additional Secretary Ahmer Kaifi also attended the meeting. The Minister, while mentioning the losses caused by global climate change, said Pakistan will also claim carbon credits through safe dumping of waste per the Paris agreement. He expressed his determination that an environmental challenge like waste will be converted into a national asset under the waste to value project. He averred that after the approval of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Punjab government will build the country's first recycling park at Lakhodeer, a suburb of Lahore. Annual revenue of Rs 1 billion is expected from the carbon credits of Lakhodeer alone. A plan to generate energy from offal is also under consideration, he said, adding that it is estimated that 1,000 tons of energy will be generated from the waste. Zeeshan Rafique further said that investors will be invited to join this project by organising road shows at home and abroad. 'Offers have also been received to produce biogas and construction bricks from the waste,' he disclosed. 'After Lahore,' he went on, 'waste will be utilised in other cities. The provincial government directed the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) to finalise and submit the details of the road shows so that the next course of action can be considered.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
19-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Punjab finalises new local government draft
The Punjab government has finalised the draft of a new local government system, party sources confirmed on Wednesday, with the proposed Local Government Act 2025 expected to be passed in the provincial assembly after the budget session. According to party insiders, the new system will eliminate direct elections for union council chairmen and vice-chairmen. Instead, elected councillors will select the top representatives. Furthermore, the method of councillor elections at the ward level is also being revised. Under the new mechanism, councillors will contest elections across the entire union council rather than individual wards. Party sources further revealed that, unlike the previous model, financial and administrative powers will now be devolved to tehsil councils instead of district councils. As part of the upcoming fiscal plan, the Punjab government has earmarked Rs5 billion specifically for the conduct of local government elections. In the first phase, the assembly will approve the budget, followed by the passage of the new Local Government Act 2025. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Lahore, Punjab Minister Local Government Zeeshan Rafique said the legislative process concerning the new law was expected to be completed by July.
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Punjab CM announces up to 40pc relief in power tariffs
LAHORE: Punjab Cabinet, which met here Tuesday with the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in the chair, accorded approval for reduction in tariffs of Quaid-e-Azam Thermal Power Private Limited and Punjab Thermal Power Private Limited. The Chief Minister also announced to reduce power tariffs in order to reduce electricity bills so as to provide maximum relief to the people. The Chief Minister approved to reduce the tariffs of Punjab's power companies. On the direction of Chief Minister, the tariffs may be reduced by 30 to 40 percent. Punjab became the first province to voluntarily reduce electricity tariffs. The Chief Minister said that people repose their complete trust in the leadership and government of PML-N. The provincial cabinet extended congratulations to the CM on party's win in the by-election at Sambrial. It was apprised that the victory gained with a huge majority in 80 percent rural provincial constituencies is a manifestation of farmers' complete confidence in the policies of Chief Minister Punjab. A large number of youth and women cast their votes in the Sambrial by-election. The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of Provincial Minister Zeeshan Rafique and Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik. Minister Zeeshan Rafique informed the cabinet that the people voted in large numbers due to public welfare initiatives and projects of Chief Minister Punjab. Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik said that people came out of their homes in a large number and voted for PML-N. The Chief Minister congratulated the Minister for Health, Minister for Communications and relevant secretaries for ensuring improvements in the conditions of hospital and roads in Layyah. She directed to take necessary steps for the establishment of a medical college in Layyah. The cabinet approved a grant-in-aid of Rs 400 million to the Punjab Journalist Housing Foundation. The PJHF will pay RUDA for the land of Lahore Press Club Housing Scheme Phase II. The CM said that a huge package is going to be given to the wheat farmers. It was informed in the meeting that the payment of Rs 5,000 per acre subsidy has been completed to 514,000 wheat farmers in Punjab. The payment will be made after the verification process of another 500,000 wheat farmers is completed. An amount of Rs. 63 billion was provided in the second phase through Kisan Card and farmers have purchased fertilizer worth Rs 18 billion. The cabinet approved the Chief Minister Wheat Program 2025. The establishment of Punjab's first 'Air Punjab Private Limited Company' was also approved. The CM set a target of starting 'Air Punjab' within one year. She directed to take immediate steps for closing vaping centres in the province. She directed to ensure 'safety gear' for labourers and workers and assigned the Labour Department a target of implementing safety SOPs for workers within a month. The provincial cabinet approved ration cards for workers and miners registered with the Labour Department. The meeting also approved the provision of electric buses in nine divisions of Punjab. The CM directed to establish charging stations in all major cities as soon as possible. The meeting approved the Punjab Autism School and Resource Centre Lahore Act 2025. The CM directed to admit all sick children to the autism centre without any discrimination. The cabinet approved the transfer of land to establish Pakistan's first Nawaz Sharif Medical District in Lahore. The medical District will have blood diseases, bone marrow and all other specialized centers on a five thousand kanals of land. Parks, hotels, food court, play area and urban forest will be established in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District. A globally renowned institution has contacted for the establishment of a children hospital in the Nawaz Sharif Medical District. The Chief Minister set a target of providing essential facilities in all schools across Punjab. Classrooms, toilet blocks, furniture and laboratories will be built in every school worth Rs. 40 billion. The provincial cabinet approved the provision of 1100 interest-free electric taxis in Lahore. The meeting approved Punjab's first child protection policy to determine the responsibilities of institutions to ensure the safety of children. Special grant-in-aid was approved for the heirs of those killed in the attack in the Attock District Courts. Eco-tourism projects were approved in Changa Manga Wildlife, Lal Sohanra National Park. The cabinet approved the construction, repair and upgradation of bus shelters in Lahore. Approval was also given to build depots for electric buses at Thokar Niaz Baig and Railway Station. The meeting approved an Rs 100 billion Chief Minister Punjab Special Financing Facility to assist flour mills and food grains license holders. The implementation of the Electronic Warehouse Reset System (EWR) was approved to facilitate farmers. The cabinet approved the presentation of the annual report of the Punjab Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (P-TEVTA) for 2022-23 in the Punjab Assembly. The proposal to delegate the powers of sub-registrars to Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars was also approved. The formation of agencies to be established under the Punjab Road Safety Authority Act 2023 was approved. The cabinet approved the Measurement Book in the Public Works Department. The Punjab Senior Citizens Welfare Bill 2025 was also approved. Amendments to the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 were approved for the provision of reflective number plates. Approval for issuance of Personalized Vanity Plates (PVP) in Punjab/ Reserve Price and Transfer Fee was approved. The provincial cabinet approved the registration of electric vehicles in Punjab. Reward system for officers/ officials and informers of the Excise Taxation and Narcotics Department was approved. Amendments to the Punjab Price Control of Essential Commodities Act, 2024 were approved. The meeting approved the Mines and Minerals Act, 2025, to harmonize the regulatory framework of the mineral resources sector. A service level agreement for technical assistance between the Punjab Information Technology Board and the Higher Education Department was approved. The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Services Bill, 2025 was approved. The dissolution of the Board of Management of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health, Lahore and the formation of an Administration Committee under the Punjab Medical and Health Institutions Act, 2003 were approved. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Minister highlights importance of Youm-e-Takbir
LAHORE: Punjab Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique on Wednesday said that the importance of Youm-e-Takbir has increased today in the context of recent Operation Bunyanun Marsus; former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif shattered India's dream of becoming the regional policeman and gave a befitting reply to the enemy by carrying out nuclear explosions. In a message on Youm-e-Takbir, he averred that the nuclear explosions of May 28 proved to be instrumental in making Pakistan's defence invincible. 'Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continued the same policy and took bold decisions; as a result of this policy, the Pakistani Army gave a befitting reply to the enemy's aggression on May 10, and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's war strategy has become a golden chapter in history,' he added. Rafique said that as a result, the enemy was forced to reconsider, and India's war ambitions began to look for an escape route. He acknowledged that all three branches of the armed forces protected the motherland. 'Allah Almighty bestowed Pakistan with grace and respect internationally in the 'Marka-e-Haq', while the enemy was badly humiliated and disgraced on every front,' he added. He continued that the people stood with the Pakistani forces after seeing the threat to their country. "It has been proven that strong defence is indispensable for peace. In the future, the enemy will think twice before attempting to challenge Pakistan,' he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
